Improvement in incendiary shells



' L. WOOD.

Shell. Q N 0. 38, 44 l.

Patented May 5, 1863.

LOFTIS XVOOD, OF BR PATENT @rrrcs.

OOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HVlPROVEMENT EN INCENDIARY SHELLS.

. pvcilicalion formingpnri of letters Patent No. eta Mr, dated May 5, 1813;

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, Lorrrs WOOD, of the ctty of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented and made eeriain new and useful Improvements in Explosive and Incendiary Projectiles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a representation of a full-size cast-metal projectile. Fig. 2 is a vertical view of a longitudinal section of afull-size projcct ile. Fig. 3 is an end view of a reduced-size projectile. Fig. 4 is a butt-end view of a rc-- duced-size projectile.

The nature of my improvement consists in constructing a projectile with a powder-chamber and aseparate chamber to contain fused or molten metal, the said chambers being coated or lined on their interior surfaces with any suitable fire-proof composition, of a character to retain heat and to prevent the condensation of the melted mass, as well as to prevent the premature explosion of the charge.

The construction of my improvements is as follows, viz:

At Fig. 1, a ea c indicate the main part or body of a cylindrical sh ell, of cast metal, formed with a conical or tapering extremity, I) Z), terniinating with a neck-like extension, 0 c, of the required dimensions. This cast-metal shell or receptacle is molded and cast with cores, as is the case in casting hollow ware of metal; but instead of producing one chamber or cav ity, asis the casein casting the ordinary spherical bomb, I construct my explosive and incendiary projectile with two chambers or cavities of suitable size, as shown in the sectional Fig. 2 at (1 cl, 0 c c c 0, the first and smaller cavity being located at the butt-end of the cylin f der to a, and the larger chamber or cavity formed of half of the main cylinder and the whole of the tapering or cone-shaped extremity as indicated at c c c c c, Fig. 2. These said chambers or cavities are perfectly separated by a partition or diaphragm, ff f, thus forming the smaller or powder receptacle and the larger receptacle to contain the molten or fused mass of metal. Immediately in the center of the flat butt-end is an opening or circular perforation, g, and through the neck-like extension 0 c c is a similar opening, 71, Fig. 2.

I reference to the sectional figure, it will be perceived that the cast metal surrounding and forming the smaller cavity (1 (l d is somewhat thicker, which is designed to give greater strength and security to the charge of powder therein to be contained.

Having formed and cast the shell as required, the cores are broken and drawn out by any convenient mode from. the two cavities or chambers through the end openings, 9 h, and after cleaning the interior surface sufiiciently, the next operation to be proceeded with is to coat the interior surfaces of said chambers. For this purpose I employ any suitable fire proof material; but from experience and test best suited and the most readily applied, and deemed to be the most non-conducting in its property. The manner of coating theinterior surfaces is to take the gypsum, properly pulverized, and,mixed with water to a proper consistency, is poured into the chambers d (1 cl e c 0, when the shell is shaken or rotated rapidly by hand,in order to diffuse equally the thin coating over the metal surface, which coating should be deposited at least one-eighth of an inch over the metal surface of the chambers or cavities, as indicated at 'i '27 t t. Fire-clay, gyp sum, and cement may all be combined and employed together for the purpose, if desired. This coating of gypsum, being applied cold, must then be subjected to the process of baking under a suitable degree of heat, which must be regulated so as to prevent any scaling off or fissures in the coating.

Having thus far progressed with the forma tion of the shell, I next form hoops or bands, of copper or brass, of suitable thickness and width, as indicated at jj j j k k k, and shrink one band securely onto the butt-end circumference, and a smallerband around the neck-like extremity; and when the shell is to be used for rifled or grooved cannon two or more hoops or bands maybe shrunk around the cylindrical body a a a c.

The use and application of my combined explosive and incendiary projectile are as fol lows, viz: Being designed principally to be against an enemy, temporary portable furnaces or tuyeres are used in connection with rendering the projectile effective, and thus being provided with the required apparatus, the metal.

it is found that plaster-of-paris or gypsum is employed in fortifications and on shipboard shell is, taken, the required charge of powder or explosive mass is deposited through the opening 9 into the charge-chamber d dd, and the opening 9 closed by the secure insertion of the time-fuse. The molten iron, being ready at hand, is dipped up in any suitable utensil and poured into the larger chamber cccc a through the opening it of the neck-like extremity, c c c, and after filling the chamber sufficiently With the molten metal, a plug of fireclay is securely rammed into the opening 72, as at LL, Fig. 1, when immediately the projectile thus charged with the powder and melted iron is deposited within the cannon ready at hand, and rammed down butt-end against the charge, and thereafter quickly discharged, when at the required time the fuse ignites the charge of powder contained in the shell and-within the chamber (1 d (1, thereby ex=' ploding the same and rending the projectile asunder, whereupon the inclosed mass of fused 1 metal is scattered around within more or less area of space, igniting and destroying everything of an inflammable and combustible nature, or killing, wounding, or dispersing whatever living object may be in reach thereof.

I do not design to confine myself to the simple application only of powder to explode the shell, as any fluid of an inflammable nature or other combustible gaseousproperty can be employed which, by the application of heat, may be generated into an explosive gas. In

employing such explosive gaseous matter, the

partition or diaphragm of the shell may, if desired, be dispensed with in casting the same; and by making the shell of the projectile of requiredform and thickness the same may be charged merely with molten metal or inflammable gaseous matter, and burst or broken asunder by concussion or contact with any resisting matter or object, as also by percussion and ignition fuse. I

My incendiary projectile is susceptible of being hrown from mortars as well as from grooved or smooth bore ordnance, and with suitable conveniently portable and compact apparatus could be rendered very effectual in the service of an army in the field, and with ordinary care can be used with safetyand pro-.

and employed in warfare, I do not, therefore,

claim an incendiary explosive projectile in itself as an invention of my own; but

lVhat I do'claim as new, and desire to hawc secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows, viz:

1. The invention of coating or liningashell projectile with the composition hereinbefore described, or with any other equivalent fireproof substance susceptible of producing the same result, as set forth.

2. The construction of a castmetal shell, 0. a ac D1) 000, formed with a smaller inclosed charge-chamber, (7, d, and a larger inclosed incendiary chamber, a c c 0, when formed and separated by a transverse air tight partition or diaphragm, ff f, the interior surfaces of which are coated with any fireproof non-conducting composition, as shown in Fig. 2, and indicated at t i 2', through all of which and whereby any molten or effused metal may be effectually and safely inclosed with an explosive mass, thus composing an incendiary and explosive projectile for the purpose as hereinbefore fully set forth and described.

LOFTIS woon. n s.] 

